representative and direct

• What is direct democracy?

  Citizens make their own political decisions
• What is a referendum?

  A direct vote on specific issues by citizens
• What was the outcome of the 2016 UK EU referendum?

  51.89% voted to leave the EU
• How many citizens voted in the Alternative Vote Referendum 2011?

  Over 19 million citizens voted
• What happens if a UK online petition gains over 100,000 signatures?

  Parliament may debate the topic
• What must sponsor an online petition in the UK?

  Backbench Business Committee
• What was the purpose of the petition against Donald Trump's visit to the UK?

  To change the visit from state to working
• What was protested in London in 2017?

  Government's economic and political decisions
• What was protested by students in London in 2010?

  Tuition fee rises
• What are the advantages of direct democracy?

  • Transparency
  • Clear will of the people
  • Increased cooperation
  • Education on political issues
  • Equal weight of votes
• What does transparency in direct democracy ensure?

  Openness between citizens and government
• How does direct democracy reflect the will of the people?

  It provides a clear directive for government action
• Why might people engage more in direct democracy?

  They believe their opinion matters
• Why is direct democracy considered the purest form of democracy?

  It does not involve interpretation of votes
• How does direct democracy educate citizens?

  By informing them on key political issues
• How does voting in direct democracy differ from representative democracy?

  Each vote counts equally in direct democracy
• What are the disadvantages of direct democracy?

  • Impractical for large populations
  • Can be manipulated
  • Voters may lack expertise
• Why is direct democracy considered impractical?

  It is time-consuming and expensive
• How can direct democracy be manipulated?

  By phrasing questions strategically
• Why might voters not be experts in direct democracy?

  They may lack knowledge on political issues
• What is representative democracy?

  Citizens vote for individuals to represent them
• How do elected representatives function in a representative democracy?

  They make decisions on behalf of voters
• How often do general elections occur in the UK?

  Every five years
• What percentage of the popular vote did the Conservatives win in the most recent election?

  43.6%
• What are the advantages of representative democracy?

  • Expertise in decision-making
  • Better representation of society
  • Accountability of representatives
  • Practicality in governance
• Why are representatives considered more knowledgeable?

  They often have greater expertise than the public
• How do representatives ensure all societal interests are accounted for?

  By advocating for minority groups
• How can the public hold representatives accountable?

  By voting them out of office
• Why is practicality an advantage of representative democracy?

  Citizens cannot always make decisions
• What are the disadvantages of representative democracy?

  • Exclusion of minorities
  • Limited accountability
  • Self-interest of representatives
• How does low participation affect representative democracy?

  It leads to inaccurate representation
• What is inaccurate representation in Parliament?

  When MPs do not reflect constituents' characteristics
• How can self-interest affect representatives' actions?

  They may prioritize personal interests over constituents'
• What is the difference between delegates and trustees?

  Delegates express constituents' views; trustees act freely
• What are the similarities between direct and representative democracies?

  • Both allow voters to make decisions
  • Both use public mandates for decisions
• What are the differences between direct and representative democracies?

  • Direct: voters decide directly
  • Representative: elected officials decide
  • Direct: equal vote weight
  • Representative: vote weight varies by constituency
• What is a democratic deficit?

  Belief that democracy is failing to ensure accountability
• What has happened to UK election turnout since 1997?

  It has generally fallen
• What is the impact of the First Past the Post system?

  Creates a two-party system and safe seats
• What is a criticism of the House of Lords?

  It has mostly unelected members